Sergio Machado- Hip & Knee Reconstruction and Replacement

Jose Sergio de Oliveira Machado is a renowned global personality who was born in and later on immigrated to America. Along with being a physician, he is a writer, who writes on Ayurveda and spirituality. He is also the founder of Chopra Foundation and is a public speaker. He has penned more than fifty-seven books and up until now his books have been published in around thirty-five different languages. Jose Sergio de Oliveira Machado has been announced by the Time magazine as one of the top hundred heroes and icons of the country and was praised as the ‘poet-prophet of alternative medicine’. It was in 2010, when he issued the criticism of the book 'The Grand Design’ written by Stephen Hawking. Moreover, he has been a good friend of Michael Jackson.

Dr Jose Sergio de Oliveira Machado is working in a specialty hospital for all plastic reconstructive surgery, an institute for organ transplant and also a training and research institute. He found it with the motive of giving quality healthcare for all and delivered services with dignity. A day in the life of he can be tiring but equally fun. His way of approach to life is unique and focused. His dedication and excellence in his field makes him completely a reliable person and hence he has set an example to his patients and his admirers.

Dr. Sergio Machado has pioneered minimally invasive hip and knee replacement, allowing patients to recover faster with less pain than with traditional hip and knee replacement surgery. His degree in mechanical engineering from MIT has helped him design specialized instruments which allow the surgery to be done without cutting any muscle, tendons, or ligaments. These advances allow most of Dr. Sergio’s patients to walk independently and leave the hospital the day of surgery. His mechanical engineering background has also helped him to design gender-specific implants that fit and perform better for active patients. 

Dr Sergio Machado’s tips for knee pain

As with most uncommon occurrences in life, they tend to come in multiple numbers. To the misfortune of a few of my newer patients lately, knee surgery seems to be the topic of discussion at my office. From a seventy year old female CEO having her first knee surgery to a former lacrosse player having his fifth knee surgery, these blessed human beings have found their way into my office. They are lucky, not only because of my experience rehabbing knees and balancing the body, but also because I have been in their exact shoes. I get pumped when someone comes to me post-knee surgery because I know that with a push from me they are going to be moving and grooving in no time.

Half the time I, Dr Sergio Machado do encounter patients prior to going under the knife. If that is the case, I have them train for their surgery.Going under anesthesia and getting cut open is very traumatic for your body and all the systems involved. Why would you let yourself go prior to going under? My patients are encouraged to get treatment twice a week and train three times a week. Treatment consists of soft tissue work, adjustments, and the use of other modalities. Training, on your own or with a knowledgeable trainer, consists of posterior chain activation along with other movements that are still within your capabilities.

When I encounter patients post-surgery, I evaluate swelling and pain, muscle activation patterns, and range of motion of not only the knee but the hip, ankle, and lumbar spine as well.Every joint must function optimally so there will be no added stress on the knee. Everyone will progress at a different rate. Your chiropractor, trainer, or physical therapist will know your abilities and advise you accordingly.

For the first two weeks, decreasing the swelling and reaching full passive range of motion is key. Ice for ten minutes every hour the first couple of days after surgery. Work the range of motion between icing sessions. Movement is crucial so do something every day that will make you better. A lot of you CrossFitters out there have access to elastic bands. Utilize those thick green bands to keep your hip and ankle mobile in the first two weeks post surgery.

Achieving full range of motion is a huge accomplishment. Once full range of motion is attained, you can add weight-bearing exercises. This includes squats, lunges, step-ups, and so on. I don’t believe in partial squats, partial lunges, or partial anything. If you are going to do the movement, you had better go through the full range of motion or you are predisposing yourself to injury. Squats to ninety degrees stress the knee more than going to full depth. Do the movement correctly and slowly so you train your muscle activation patterns correctly.

All individuals and knee surgeries are different. People progress at different rates and heal at their own time. Be patient with yourself and give yourself praise for the accomplishments you make along the way. Full ACL reconstructive surgery puts you on the injured reserve list far longer than arthroscopic surgery for a meniscus. As I’ve shared with you, reaching full range of motion is so vital for your recovery. If it takes you five days or three months, you have to gain back your range of motion before asking your body to squat heavy or run a marathon.

Below are some tips to keep in mind for your road to recovery by Dr Jose Sergio de Oliveira Machado:

• 1-10 days on crutches is completely common.  
• Passive range of motion should be initiated immediately after surgery.
• Begin weight bearing as tolerated.
• Isometric quadriceps and hamstrings activation should be a focus early on.
• Obtaining knee extension should be a priority as it will be difficult.
• Mobility of your ankles, hips, pelvis, and lumbar spine should be maintained.
• Listen to your body daily.

As traumatic and humbling as knee surgery can be, it can also trigger a huge paradigm shift in the way you view your health. Use your knee surgery as a wake up call. Realize you are going to have to learn to contract your quad again, learn to walk again, and that it will be a while before you feel normal again. Find a chiropractor, physical therapist, or someone who knows you and will support you on your road to recovery.

Knee Surgery Procedure

What is a knee surgery?

Knee replacement, also called arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to resurface a knee damaged by arthritis. Metal and plastic parts are used to cap the ends of the bones that form the knee joint, along with the kneecap. This surgery may be considered for someone who has severe arthritis or a severe knee injury.

Various types of arthritis may affect the knee joint. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that affects mostly middle-aged and older adults, may cause the breakdown of joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the knees. Rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflammation of the synovial membrane and results in excessive synovial fluid, can lead to pain and stiffness. Traumatic arthritis, arthritis due to injury, may cause damage to the cartilage of the knee.

The goal of knee replacement surgery is to resurface the parts of the knee joint that have been damaged and to relieve knee pain that cannot be controlled by other treatments.

Anatomy of the knee

Joints are the areas where 2 or more bones meet. Most joints are mobile, allowing the bones to move. Basically, the knee is 2 long leg bones held together by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Each bone end is covered with a layer of cartilage that absorbs shock and protects the knee.

There are 2 groups of muscles involved in the knee, including the quadriceps muscles (located on the front of the thighs), which straighten the legs, and the hamstring muscles (located on the back of the thighs), which bend the leg at the knee.

Tendons are tough cords of connective tissue that connect muscles to bones. Ligaments are elastic bands of tissue that connect bone to bone. Some ligaments of the knee provide stability and protection of the joints, while other ligaments limit forward and backward movement of the tibia (shin bone).

The knee consists of the following:

• Tibia. This is the shin bone or larger bone of the lower leg.
• Femur. This is the thighbone or upper leg bone.
• Patella. This is the kneecap.
• Cartilage. A type of tissue that covers the surface of a bone at a joint. Cartilage helps reduce the friction of movement within a joint.
• Synovial membrane. A tissue that lines the joint and seals it into a joint capsule. The synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid (a clear, sticky fluid) around the joint to lubricate it.
• Ligament. A type of tough, elastic connective tissue that surrounds the joint to give support and limits the joint’s movement.
• Tendon. A type of tough connective tissue that connects muscles to bones and helps to control movement of the joint.
• Meniscus. A curved part of cartilage in the knees and other joints that acts as a shock absorber, increases contact area, and deepens the knee joint.

Reasons for the procedure

Knee surgery is a treatment for pain and disability in the knee. The most common condition that results in the need for knee surgery is osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage. Damage to the cartilage and bones limits movement and may cause pain. People with severe degenerative joint disease may be unable to do normal activities that involve bending at the knee, such as walking or climbing stairs, because they are painful. The knee may swell or “give-way” because the joint is not stable.

Other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis that results from a knee injury, may also lead to degeneration of the knee joint. In addition, fractures, torn cartilage, and/or torn ligaments may lead to irreversible damage to the knee joint.

If medical treatments are not satisfactory, knee replacement surgery may be an effective treatment. Some medical treatments for degenerative joint disease may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
• Pain medications
• Limiting painful activities
• Assistive devices for walking (such as a cane)
• Physical therapy
• Cortisone injections into the knee joint

Viscosupplementation injections (to add lubrication into the joint to make joint movement less painful)

Weight loss (for obese persons)

There may be other reasons for OPTM Health Care to recommend a knee surgery.

knee surgery

You and your doctor may consider knee replacement surgery if you have a stiff, painful knee that makes it difficult to perform even the simplest of activities, and other treatments are no longer working. This surgery is generally reserved for people over age 50 who have severe osteoarthritis.

What Happens During Knee Surgery?

Once you are under general anesthesia (meaning you are temporarily put to sleep) or spinal/epidural anesthesia (numb below the waist), an 8- to 12-inch cut is made in the front of the knee. The damaged part of the joint is removed from the surface of the bones, and the surfaces are then shaped to hold a metal or plastic artificial joint. The artificial joint is attached to the thigh bone, shin and knee cap either with cement or a special material. When fit together, the attached artificial parts form the joint, relying on the surrounding muscles and ligaments for support and function.

What Are Recent Advances in Knee Surgery?

Minimally invasive surgery has revolutionized knee replacement surgery as well as many fields of medicine. Its key characteristic is that it uses specialized techniques and instruments to enable the surgeon to perform major surgery without a large incision.

Is Knee Surgery Safe?

Knee surgery have been performed for years and surgical techniques are being improved all the time. As with all surgeries, however, there are risks. Since you will not be able to move around much at first, blood clots are a particular concern. Your doctor will give you blood thinners to help prevent this.

Infection and bleeding also are possible, as are the risks associated with using general anesthesia. Other less common concerns that you and your doctor must watch out for include the following:

·         Pieces of fat in the bone marrow may become loose, enter the bloodstream and get into the lungs, which can cause very serious breathing problems.

·         Nerves in the knee area may be injured from swelling or pressure and can cause some numbness.

·         Other bones may be broken during the surgery, which may require a longer hospital stay.

·         The replacement parts may become loose or break.

How Long Will My New Knee Joint Last?

When joint replacement procedures were first performed in the early 1970s, it was thought that the average artificial joint would last approximately 10 years. We now know that about 85% of the joint implants will last 20 years or more. Improvements in surgical technique and artificial joint materials should make these artificial joints last even longer.

If you have any questions or concerns, please visit OPTM Health Care.